The Kortrijk Ring Road (R8) is mostly designed as a freeway with two lanes in each direction, entrance/exit ramps, and service roads. However, the section between the Bruges-Kortrijk railroad line and the Leie is an exception, with intersections controlled by traffic lights and direct property access to parking lots of large stores. In this section, bike lanes are unseparated, and footpaths are incomplete.

Working with staff from the city of Kortrijk and the municipality of Kuurne, we refined a set of initial questions to align with the project’s goals. Our objective was to assess how users and residents currently experience this portion of the R8 and to understand their expectations for its redesign.

The online survey attracted 941 respondents. A majority expressed that through traffic should utilize a continuous R8, potentially by using the currently unused central reservation. They also recommended that service roads be designed separately for local traffic, enhancing the flow for both local and through traffic. There was a strong call for significantly improved safety measures for cyclists and pedestrians.